Self-adjusting wrench



April 1 1924. G. T. PETTYS SELF; ADJUSTING WRENCH Filed June a, 1.922

Patented Apr. l, 1924:.

U N [T E. D S T A T fl fa;

GAROLD T. PETTYS, OF CHASE MILLS, NEVT YORK.

SELF-ADJUSTING "W'RENCH.

Application filed .Tune 8, 1922. Serial No. 566,723.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnnonn T. Pnrrrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chase Mills, in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improven'ients in Self- Adjusting Wrenches; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to tools of the wrench type and adapted for use for pipes and bolts and which automatically adapts itself within certain limits to the size of the article to be gripped, the gripping action being proportional to the force exerted for operating the wrench.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the na ture of the invention is understood.

'While the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet difierent conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion ant minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application,

Figure 1 is a side view of a wrench embodying the invention, the jaws being closed,

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of the head of the wrench, the jaws being open and parts broken away,

Figure 3 is transverse section on the line 33 of Figure 2, and

Figure A is a transverse section on the line 1- 1 of Figure 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The wrench comprises a bar or handle 1 having its forward end portion 2 inclined and provided with a longitudinal slot 3. A jaw A is pivoted at its inner or rear end to the outer end of the inclined portion 2 of the handle by means of a pivot 5. One of the pivot ends is forked to receive the companion pivot end and in the present in.- stance the rear end of the jaw 41 is forked to receive and embrace the sides of the inclined end 2 of the handle 1. The jaw l; is outwardly curved between its ends and a bifurcated lug 6 extends inwardly from the hollow or concave side and is inclined rearwardly. That por tion of the jaw 4c forwardly of the bifurcated lug 6 is adapted to grip the work and is toothed to prevent slipping when operating upon pipe or other round article.

A companion jaw 7 has an inwardly disposed lug 8 midway its ends which is connected to the lug 6 of the jaw 4 by means of a pivot 9. The forward gripping end of the aw 7 is inclined to match the gripping end of the jaw 4 and is toothed to prevent slipping. The rear portion of the jaw 7 is bent laterally substantially at a right angle as indicated at 10 and is forked to embrace opposite sides of that portion of the handle 1 provided with the longitudinal slot A pivot 11 connects the rear end of the jaw 7 with the forward end of the handle 1 and e tends'through the longitudinal slot 3 and receives a roller 12 whereby to reduce the friction to the smallest amount possible.

Movement of the rear end of the handle 1 in one direction depresses the inner or rear end of the jaw 1, thereby separating the gripping ends of the two jaws to admit of the work being received between them. Movement of the rear end of the handle 1 in an opposite direction effects a closing of the gripping ends of the jaws whereby to grip the article placed between them. The gripping action is automatic and proportional to the force exerted to turn the wrench and the article held between the jaws thereof. Should it be necessary to rotate the article by a step by step movement, the wrench may be caused to operate by a ratchet action by oscillating the handle whereby the work is alternately ripped and released, backward movement of the handle releasing the wrench and forward movement of the handle causing the wrench to grip and rotate the work.

What is claimed is:

A wrench comprising a longitudinall curved jaw, a complemental aw of greater length than the curved jaw and having its rear end laterally offset and bifurcated. said curved jaw having a bifurcated rearwardly and downwardly extending projection intermediate its ends, a lug formed on the complcmental aw and extending into the bifurcation in the projection and pivoted to the projection, a handle having its forward end upwardly inclined, said handle provided with a longitudinally extending slot, said curved jaw pivoted at its rear end to the forward end of the handle, the second named jaw having the arms of its bifurcated offset embracing the handle, a pivot passing through said offset and passing through the longitudinally extending slot in the handle, and said curved jaw adapted to swing upwardly and rearwardly relative to the sec- 0nd named jaw when the forward end of the handle is depressed, said movement of the curved jaw resulting from the rearward and downward inclination of the projection.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 15 

